February 2023

There are several reasons why heel pain can develop, and one cause is heel pad syndrome. While heel pads break down due to normal use and aging, excessive wear and tear or injury can cause the heel pads to shrink in size. This condition can also result from obesity, other health or foot conditions, or from wearing poorly cushioned shoes. Heel pads are like shock absorbing cushions in the heels. They are composed of fat and flexible, but tough fibers. They not only absorb shock from the impact of standing and mobility, they help to distribute the body weight and protect the bones and joints in the foot. With this syndrome, the heel pads lose their elasticity and shock-absorbing capacity, and severe pain in the middle of the heel can develop. It can feel similar to a bad bruise without being visible. The good news is that this is a treatable condition which may improve with exercise. Since it is difficult to distinguish one cause of heel pain from another, it is suggested that you visit a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment for your particular heel pain.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact John Horlebein, DPM of Northern Cascades Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes                  
• Wearing non-supportive shoes
• Weight change           
• Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress-free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a condition of the past.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Chelan, WA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Regardless of how you broke your foot, bearing weight on a broken foot before it has healed sufficiently can cause additional injury. It is important that you wear a walking boot, are in a cast, or use crutches when you break your foot. It is generally seen that a broken bone takes six to 12 weeks to heel. The younger and healthier you are, the quicker healing can happen. The location of the break will also impact healing time. If the injury to your foot is in the heel, big toe, or fifth metatarsal, expect to be off your feet for at least six weeks. As might be expected, if you have a displaced broken bone that requires surgery or pins for stabilization, healing time will be longer. If you have sustained a break to your foot, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist for a proper evaluation and treatment plan.

A broken foot requires immediate medical attention and treatment. If you need your feet checked, contact John Horlebein, DPM from Northern Cascades Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury. 

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

• Bruising
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blue in color
• Numbness
• Cold
• Misshapen
• Cuts
• Deformities

Those that suspect they have a broken foot shoot seek urgent medical attention where a medical professional could diagnose the severity.

Treatment for broken bones varies depending on the cause, severity and location. Some will require the use of splints, casts or crutches while others could even involve surgery to repair the broken bones. Personal care includes the use of ice and keeping the foot stabilized and elevated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Chelan, WA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Plantar warts are often confused with other kinds of foot conditions such as corns. However, plantar warts are importantly different from corns, and anyone who cares about maintaining the health of their feet ought to be familiar with what is unique about them. Plantar warts are growths on the feet that are ultimately caused by the human papillomavirus. These growths sometimes can be painful. Plantar warts can, in fact, grow in clusters. However, they do not necessarily do so. These clusters of plantar warts on the bottoms of the feet can present themselves as groupings of warts. Clusters can also form on one or both feet at a time. If you are someone that has plantar warts, contact a podiatrist today to learn more and to receive treatment. 

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact John Horlebein, DPM from Northern Cascades Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

• Lesions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy
• Hard or thick callused spots
• Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots
• Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

• Freezing
• Electric tool removal
• Laser Treatment
• Topical Creams (prescription only)
• Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, can help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Chelan, WA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Although the feet are relatively small parts of the body, pain in the feet is nothing to minimize. Since we need the feet to function throughout the day on a daily basis, it is generally thought that foot pain is something to be avoided if at all possible. If you are someone that engages in the sport of soccer, then it is possible that playing this sport might eventually lead to some kind of foot pain if you are not careful and cautious. For example, those who play soccer sometimes develop pain from what is known as a lateral ankle sprain. This is the most common or frequent injury among soccer players. It occurs when a player essentially ruptures or stretches a ligament around the ankle joint area. Additionally, it is possible that soccer players might develop some kind of foot pain from a tibia or fibula fracture. Contact a podiatrist today if you want to learn more about foot pain from soccer.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with John Horlebein, DPM from Northern Cascades Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Chelan, WA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.